State of New Mexico
NEW MEXICO SENATE
LEGENDARY FORMER SENATOR TIM JENNINGS BIDS ADIEU
For immediate release
Contact: Arnold Vigil, (505) 986-4263
In an emotional and sometimes teary-eyed farewell that decried “hate” in politics, former Senator Tim Jennings presided over his last committee hearing on Monday morning at the Roundhouse, culminating an illustrious 34-year senatorial career that saw him hold nearly every leadership position in the New Mexico State Senate.
Jennings, who lost his longtime Roswell seat in a hotly contested and high-profile race to incoming freshman Senator Cliff Pirtle, (R) District 32, presided over the joint Legislative Council meeting that approved a $134,000 appropriation to the Department of Public Safety to finance security for the duration of the 60-day 2013 Legislative Session.
Just before the meetings attention turned to Jennings’ tenure, Senate Majority Leader Michael S. Sanchez, (D) District 29, also praised the work and legislative career of former Dona Ana County Senator Mary Jane Garcia.
“She represented her district with heart and soul,” Senator Sanchez said. “To Mary Jane Garcia, we want to thank her.”
After the only actual order of business during the meeting and Garcia’s recognition, Jennings turned the floor over to representatives from the House, fellow senators and people in the audience who both praised and roasted him in heartfelt farewells.
“It’s been a great ride,” an emotional Jennings said. “This is one huge family and I hope you all make sure it stays that way.
“We’re not here for the party; we’re here for the people.”
Jennings also alluded to the well-financed campaign waged against him by Governor Susana Martinez and her consultant Jay McCleskey, who runs Reform New Mexico. “We’ve got to figure out a meaningful way to stop the hate. It needs to stop. It’s not part of democracy.”
The Roswell area rancher was one of many legislators targeted by Reform New Mexico during the last election, in which Governor Martinez and her supporters became personally and publicly involved in many individual campaigns, something no other sitting governor has ever done in the history of the state. Jennings was the target of many mudslinging ads and his campaign was forced to take the defensive in the campaign.
The race turned into one of the most expensive legislative races in New Mexico history and Jennings said he hoped that in the future, such district races would be decided by the a district’s constituents and not big out-of-state money.
Jennings said he would still come around the Capitol, but did not say whether he would try to regain his seat in the future. Jennings held nearly every Senate leadership, including Senate President Pro-tem, Majority Leader, and Senate Whip. He joked that he arrived in Santa Fe a fresh 24-year-old from the Chaves County Commission with braces and a dog.
“We’re not all the same, but under the Constitution, we’re all the same” Jennings said in some of his closing comments. “We should all know the differences between the House and the Senate and when to separate powers, and when to stand up to the governor and to the judiciary.
“You must stand up for the body you represent.”
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